Newburgh Armory 'out of space' for U.S. Naval Sea Cadets

CITY OF NEWBURGH — The U.S. Naval Sea Cadets who drilled at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center have orders to leave.

BY DOYLE MURPHY

CITY OF NEWBURGH — The U.S. Naval Sea Cadets who drilled at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center have orders to leave.

Bill Kaplan, chair of the center's board, said there isn't space for the group's monthly drills. The cadets' commander said Kaplan wants to punish them for refusing to prepare the armory's roof for Hurricane Sandy.

The cadet program offers kids, ages 11-17, a military test run without actually joining the armed services. Commander Kathy Keller said Kaplan told her on Oct. 27 to make the 35 cadets redistribute the river rock that weighs down a rubber membrane covering the roof. Keller said she refused because it wasn't safe. Kaplan then told her and the adult officers to do it, but they refused over insurance concerns, Keller said.

"He got irate with us and said if we weren't willing to help out on the roof we needed to get out — we couldn't drill there anymore," Keller said.

Kaplan followed up with a letter, telling the cadets to clear out by Nov. 17 because there "simply is not enough space." He eventually called Keller, but the conversation grew so heated Kaplan later sent an apologetic email. He also reminded her that the cadets should be out by the weekend. Keller said she gave up any hope of reconciling.

"I can't go through this every time he has a temper tantrum," she said.

Kaplan's foundation is the largest financial backer of the armory, and supporters point out the hundreds, maybe thousands of hours he's dedicated to transforming the center into one of the most successful projects in Newburgh. Kaplan said he grew angry with Keller on the phone but quickly regretted being "rude" and sent an apology. He insists that had nothing to do with the cadets' ouster.

"The main reason was we really didn't have room for them," he said.

Kaplan said he consulted with the executive board about the decision. The board's treasurer, SUNY Orange President Dr. William Richards confirmed those discussions and said a decision on the Sea Cadets was discussed long before the storm.

"We're just out of space," he said.

Deirdre Glenn, executive director for the armory, said all the board members were informed. Newburgh City Manager Richard Herbek, a board member, said he got an e-mail on Tuesday that rehashed the prestorm confrontation in explaining the decision.

Another board member, Carmen Vazqueztell, sided with Kaplan and said the cadets' leadership had made "incorrect and inappropriate" statements while failing to embrace the center's volunteer spirit. Keller said cadets had often volunteered for projects that were safe.